Attracting Talent Through Employer Brand Authenticity

Attracting Talent Through Employer Brand Authenticity This global biotech company stands out in a competitive industry by prioritizing authenticityâ€"saying no to impersonal stock photography and vanilla social media advocacy. Tammy Embry is a Global Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing Strategist at Amgen. Have a listen to the episode below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to theEmployer Branding Podcast. Listen onApple Podcasts,Spotify,StitcherorSoundcloud. In this episode you’ll learn: • What their talent challenges are including volume and diversity• Why theyre not just about science or tech• Why they used photography as a blueprint to tell employee stories• Why the LinkedIn Elevate platform is a game-changer• What #lifeatamgen means and how it works You can connect with Tammy  here.

How to Write a Good General Purpose Resume

How to Write a Good General Purpose ResumeWriting a good general purpose resume is not that difficult. But the very first step you need to take when writing a great resume is picking out the specific skill that you want to highlight in your resume.This specific skill should be based on a lot of experience, as a beginner this does not matter that much. But it is important that the specific skill you write about be the one you are best at. If you know everything, then put that into your resume, but if you don't then write about it!The next step is to list all the jobs you have held and show a high level of proficiency. The number of years you worked for a particular employer is also important. The experience should not be so low as to make the employer wonder if you have any skills.The skills you have should be in one of the 5 main categories, these can be cover letter, closing statement, job description, education, and experience. It is also possible to look at your other possible qua lifications, and list them under other skill categories. This is a great way to show other people how much you have learned throughout your career. It will also make the resume read like an experience document and keep it from being a document to be thrown away.The things I have listed above are some of the most common skills and experiences that any person has ever had in their life. So it is important that the writer puts them here. Try to choose some of the best ones, and look at them again when creating your resume.Another thing to consider when writing a general purpose resume is what you hope to accomplish with the job you are applying for. Is it a higher position? Does it have to do with the kind of work you do? Are you simply looking for a raise?Whatever the situation is, it is important that you include something that is related to the specific skill you want to emphasize in your resume. The interview should be a chance to demonstrate the type of skill you have, not only sh ow that you know the company, but that you are qualified for the position.Using the skills listed above when writing a general purpose resume will help you create a resume that is interesting and complete. Most likely the interviewer will not have the time to look through every detail that is in your resume, but they will read what you wrote about the skills that you have, and will make sure to give the company a call. Remember to always have a goal and write about it as best as you can!

Personal Branding Weekly - Three Questions for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly - Three Questions for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Spoiler alert: If you haven’t started watching this season of the Walking Dead then don’t read any further. Rarely do I watch television but one of my guilty pleasures is a weekly dose of The Walking Dead. In the Season Four premier, Rick revealed three questions he asked anyone before accepting them into their camp of people they are journeying through the apocalypse with. He asks: 1. How many walkers have you killed? 2. How many people have you killed? 3. Why? That reminded me of three questions that one of my favorite speakers, Roger Crawford, asks of anyone in their own goal setting and life journey. He asks: 1. Where have you come from? 2. How long have you been there? 3. Which way are you going? For your personal brand: Where have you come from? Do you know your history, your foundation, your values and passions? Do you know what drives you? Do you know what makes you unique and can you communicate that briefly and succinctly? How long have you been there? Why or how long have you been at this same particular spot in your journey? Is there a goal that you were focused on and that you completed? Is there something that changed so therefore you need to change your focus and direction? Did you become “comfortable” and did that keep you at one level in your journey so far? Which way are you going? Do you have a vision of where you are headed? Do you know your purpose? Do you have direction, the end in mind or the goals you’re working towards? Each of these questions is vital to the next step as you manage your personal brand. If you haven’t asked yourself these questions, then take a moment to do so, so that you can move on with clarity. When we are unclear, we often travel around in circles, wander aimlessly and take entirely too long to make critical decisions in our journey that it costs us valuable opportunities or our brand. Feel free to share your answer to the three questions in the comments below! This past week we focused on: The Healthier Side of Modeling: An Interview with Victor Surma by Bill Connolly Eliminating Its Not My Job Attitudesat Your Workplace by Skip Weisman How to Place a Value on Your Brand by Crystal Washington 3 Ways to Improve Your Home and Your Life: An Interview with Justin Singletary by Dan Schawbel Whats the Best Answer to the Dreaded Weakness Question? by Nance Rosen Google Yourself to Manage Your Brand by Heather Huhman We Judge with Our Eyes by Alex Freund Lessons in Personal Branding Success from Jay Conrad Levinson by Roger Parker Revitalize Marketing Materials and Your Business by Elinor Stutz Talking Money: Its All About the Benjamins! by Richard Kirby Make Likes Matter to Your Word of Mouth by Maria Elena Duron Lets Get Physical by Jeff Shuey Clash of Generations at the Workplace by Ceren Cubukcu Know What the Hiring Managers Thinking to Get Hired! by Beth Kuhel Overcoming Rejection to Achieve Success by Leslie Truex Baby Boomer Career Development Plans by Marc Miller Insecurity: A Driving Force for Good Evil by Skip Weisman Seven key notables from last week are: 1. The savvy candidate will carefully review the position and everything else about the company (and its employees) so when it’s time for your interview, you have knowledge and confidence to answer questions like you’re an insider so you get hired! (Author, Beth Kuhel) 2. Figure out what makes you feel alive. Think about what you can’t wait until you get a chance to do again and again. Plan for it and do it. (Author, Jeff Shuey) 3. As a remote worker, it is important to me to make sure that my home is comfortable and conducive to productivity. (Author, Bill Connolly) 4. Knowing your value and discussing fees does not cheapen relationships or take away from your craft. In the end, a mutual respect for money will only strengthen your brand. Be sure. (Author, Crystal Washington) 5. Take this advice and know that if your first impression was not as stellar as you would have liked, the second impression will still allow you a chance to leave a truer image of You” and your brand with your contacts. (Author, Kevin Monahan) 6. If everyone on the team’s “job” is to contribute to winning the championship, then anything they are asked to do is their job, regardless of how their unique their “role” is defined. (Author, Skip Weisman) 7. You cannot manage a good personal brand if you don’t understand the results of your efforts. (Author, Heather Huhman) We also saved some great tweetables for you to share with your twitter followers: As professionals in business, we should help show everyone they have value to add and help them realize they are significant.  http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/insecurity-a-driving-force-for-good-evil  [tweet this] Your goal should be about becoming more knowledgeable about a company so you can see how you can contribute there. http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/know-what-the-hiring-managers-thinking-to-get-hired [tweet this] Holiday season can be a great time to do some solid networking. Plan now to be ready for the most wonderful time of the year! http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/most-wonderful-time-of-the-year  [tweet this] Rejection sucks, but is a part of success. No one likes to hear “no”, but you can’t achieve your goals without taking risks. http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/overcoming-rejection-to-achieve-success  [tweet this] You should occasionally check in on your competition, but the less time you worry, the better off your company will be.  http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/how-often-should-you-be-checking-in-on-your-competition  [tweet this] Klout measures how effective you are in interacting and how often others spread the word about you and your brand. http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/klout-as-a-personal-brand-builder  [tweet this] What you want, enjoy and makes you happy is considered important not only to individuals but employers as well. http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/baby-boomer-career-development-plans  [tweet this] Did you know your resume is the most important document you’ll be evaluated by? The first impression is a lasting impression. http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/endear-yourself-to-the-buyer  [tweet this] This next week we’ll cover: • The art of connecting genuinely • Retaining brand domination • Why negotiations fail and how to fix things • Cliches to remove from your brand • Resume tips • Important keywords for your personal brand • And more! Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers. Are you busy? Here’s some quick and easy tips on  Social Marketing for busy people.

Dont Let Your Personal Brand Lose Relevancy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Dont Let Your Personal Brand Lose Relevancy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Tim Manners about brand relevancy. Tim cites various examples about people and companies that are staying relevant and others that are not. When it comes to personal branding, you have to stay relevant by having the latest skills and by following the latest trends (even starting a trend). You have to constantly remind others of your existence and as technology changes, you should use the latest channels to get your messages across because your audience will be there. Tim, why do you think demographics are dead? Dont you think targeting specific audiences is important when it comes to marketing your brand? Demographics can be a valuable way to target specific audiences, but for the most part they are a poor substitute for true insights into people as people. In my many conversations with top marketing people, I was surprised by how many of them indicated that demographics were less relevant to their marketing strategies today than in the past. They suggested they were looking beyond demographics and taking a more holistic view of the marketplace. For example: Anne Saunders, when she was CMO at Starbucks, told me that Starbucks is less about any particular demographic group than it is about creating a great coffeehouse experience for people in general. Leslie Kilgore, the CMO of Netflix, said that Netflix was essentially about a better movie-going experience. Jim Adams of Chipotle, who, when I asked him if he was targeting any particular demographic group said, “Yes â€" people who eat!” The point is that the real goal is to create a better experience for your customers, and that knows no demographic boundaries. In some cases, too much reliance on demographics can actually limit your growth. Think about the recent success of Nintendo, for example, which created a better video game experience, and as a result now appeals to groups it didn’t previously â€" even senior citizens, not to mention women and girls. Demographics are really are a vestige of mass media advertising. The future belongs to marketers who take the time to truly understand their customers and create better experiences for them. Which companies and people arent as relevant anymore as they were years ago and why? When you think about it, just about every brand, regardless of how great or successful it is, has flirted with irrelevance at one time or another. Remember back in the late 90s when Apple nearly went out of business? They had turned what had been something really special into beige boxes and clones of its former self. As we all know, that changed when Steve Jobs returned, and came out with those candy-colored iMacs, and reminded everyone of what made Apple great to begin with. That really is the key â€" the brands that stay in touch with what made them relevant in the first place are the most successful brands. FAO Schwarz was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy a few short years ago because it tried to compete with Wal-Mart and Toys R Us on price, and its merchandise mix became pedestrian â€" indistinguishable from that of its competitors. But now FAO is back, and about to expand into some 700 Macy’s stores nationwide, because it re-connected with its original idea, which is unique, quality toys that spark the imagination, in combination with a spectacular shopping experience. As for brands that aren’t as relevant anymore as they used to be, I can’t help but think of Krispy Kreme, which used to be about donuts fresh out of the oven and turned into tired looking donuts at every corner gas station. Krispy Kreme confused ubiquity with relevance, tried to expand faster than it should have, and lost its way. That happened largely because of growth pressures from Wall Street. Starbucks is now suffering from a similar problem. And let’s not forget Lehman Brothers, which had been around since the 1800s, and was known for its high-end clientèle and highly personal service. Had it stayed true to its original point of relevance, it might still be in business today. You say Brands that depend too heavily on buzz for growth are not built to last. A lot of startup companies are looking for a lot of press when they launch, from TechCrunch to the NY Times. Does this work? Why or why not? There’s nothing wrong with looking for buzz or publicity. My point is that it’s a short-term tactic that is not sustainable over the long run. Too many people seem to think that the marketing business is like the fashion business, that’s it’s a game of looking cool or buzzworthy, played out in 15-minute increments. Too many brands try to use buzz, or other kinds of advertising, as a crutch rather than a platform. We’ve seen that recently with Microsoft and its ads with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, which created a lot of buzz and not much else. At best, Microsoft was trying to be as cool and hip as Apple, which will never happen. At worst, Microsoft was trying to cover for the shortcomings of its Vista operating system, which is misguided. If they want to spend $300 million on something, they should think about investing it making sure their product works as advertised. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImyK29QLs_A] My favorite example of a brand that uses advertising as a platform is not a fashionable one â€" it’s Avis. Everybody knows its slogan, which hasn’t changed for 40 years: “We’re #2. We Try Harder. “ It’s not just an ad slogan, it’s the Avis culture, which is all about customer service â€" making the customer, not Avis, #1. This has paid off for Avis in customer loyalty ratings, which regularly beat Hertz, whose positioning as the #1 car-rental company really is all about them, not about us. What are your 6 guiding principles for brands? Which is your favorite/the most important and why? My six guiding principles are 1) Insights, or understanding people as people, and creating conversations with them instead of talking at them. 2) Innovation, which is focused on solving problems and adding value. 3) Investment, centered on satisfying consumer needs versus polishing brand images; 4) Design, which is kept simple. 5) Experience, which is about creating better lives for real people in the real world, and not just in television commercials. 6) Value, which is not only about providing value to the brand, but also making consumers feel valued. I don’t know that one principle is more important than the others, but if I had to pick a “favorite” it would be the “Experience.” Partly this is because ultimately, how we experience a product or service largely determines its relevance to us. But it’s also because I believe one of the best ways to create a better experience â€" at retail, while shopping â€" is one of the most underdeveloped opportunities in marketing today. The retail store is perhaps the only medium where sales and marketing happen simultaneously. The only real possibility is the Internet, although I would argue that the Web is more a sales medium than a marketing medium, at least at this point. Not only is retail a place where you can surround the shopper in a fantastic environment that touches all five of the senses, but it is also the place where the cash register rings. The marketing industry turns itself inside out to calculate ROI on its media spend. There should be more attention to the potential of retail not only to enhance brand relevance, but also to drive brand growth. Can you relate your branding philosophies and research to individuals. How can people remain relevant to the marketplace? This is a great question which I’d like to answer by quoting an extraordinary man who passed away a few days ago. Paul Newman once said, “You can get straight A’s in marketing, but still fail ordinary life.” He made the comment to Lee Iacocca after his Ford Pinto caught on fire. Newman’s Own â€" his line of food products â€" is a great example of how his personal relevance translated to the marketplace. Paul Newman never made a penny of profit personally on his products, and to date has raised more than $250 million for various charities, mostly for children and education. Tom Indoe, the president of Newman’s Own, once told me that people bought Newman’s Own in part because they liked and trusted Paul Newman. They also bought it because doing so helped good causes. But the main thing that made Newman’s Own a success was that the products were of super high quality â€" and this is because they were either from Paul Newman’s own recipes or were personally kitchen tested and approved by him. My point is that relevance is in fact a highly personal matter, and many of the great innovations happened purely because an individual solved a problem for him- or herself, that happened to apply to a lot of other people. My favorite example of this in the book is Steve Wozniak, who for all intents and purposes invented the personal computer simply because he was wanted a better way to create and play computer games. People can remain relevant to the marketplace, simply by seeing themselves as their own best customers. Tim Manners is editor and publisher of The Hub, a print magazine dedicated to exploring insights, ideas and innovations as the ultimate driver of effectiveness in marketing. He is also editor and publisher of Reveries.com, the home of Cool News of the Day, a daily digest of marketing insights published both online and via an e-mail newsletter since 1998. Manners is a regular contributor to FastCompany.com. Tims new book, Relevance: Making Stuff That Matters, just came out.

Writing a Resume For a Cashier Position

Writing a Resume For a Cashier PositionWriting a resume for a cashier position is something that you need to do in order to get hired for the job. In fact, the only way to do it well is to go into it with a great deal of preparation and not leave anything out.There are two things you need to include on your resume: your employment history and your work experience. Some employers will want to see your ability to perform in their particular office environment, but they are not looking for any specific skills that you have. Therefore, if you've never worked in the particular position that you're applying for, then writing a resume for a cashier is something that you need to do even before you take a look at the job application.For starters, you should write out your paper work; including names of your references, your contact information and the dates when you have last talked to them. With this information, the interviewer can follow up with your references to find out about your curre nt situation and to get a general idea about how much you understand about this position.You should put in as much general information as possible about your education and work experience. This will help the employer to choose your resume according to your skills and abilities, which means that he or she can focus more on your skills rather than your educational background.It's also a great way to explain why you want the job, because it's your main reason for applying. Putting down the things that you love doing, will give an interviewer a better idea of what your potential job responsibilities are.Speaking of responsibilities, if you have any, make sure that you list them out and make sure that you put them in an easy to read place, so that the employer can see them and learn more about your skills without having to read over them several times. Make sure that you write down your job duties down, especially those that are important to you.If you don't know the title for your posit ion yet, then writing a resume for a cashier position is also a good time to learn the name. The employer can contact you for some guidance on the title, and you will probably have the ability to be interviewed and hired based on the title that you have decided on.As a note, the employer doesn't really need to see any other information besides your education and work experience. Therefore, you don't need to write down any supplementary information like hobbies, where you live, any special skills that you have, etc. This should be enough for him or her to make an initial choice about who will get the job and the rest of the details can wait until you meet with the employer in person.

Considering Working for A Startup Ask These 6 Questions First

Considering Working for A Startup Ask These 6 Questions First Source â€" Pexels.comJoining a startup can be a remarkably rewarding career experience, but it is also a very risky job move because a lot of startups wind up failing. The SBA It continues to amaze me how often people don’t ask these essential questions before joining a new startup company.Usually, job candidates remember to ask about the job fundamentals evalI believe it’s critically important to understand the background and history of the founders. How did they meet? Have they worked together before? What brought them together with this particular opportunity?Too many startups fail not due to market forces, but since the founders just couldn’t agree on important issues. You need to ask questions to understand how well the founders get along.2. Can you get along with the team?Startup teams are often a very close-knit group. There is nowhere to hide. If you do not get along with just about everybody there, life will be hard.Most recruits will decide whether they respect the cr eators along with other team members If you can not see working next to them for 60+ hours a week, then think twice about working at this firm.3. What is the history of this basic idea?What were the other business ideas tested and then rejected? I get worried if the thought being chased is too green and fresh. Often the entrepreneurs haven’t yet had a chance to think through the business model entirely in early-stage startups.Frequently, it takes a reasonable amount of “refinement” for many people to settle-in on an idea that they will pursue seriously.I am leery of startup teams that develop an idea in week 1 and begin “recruitment” in week two since they are so enamored of the thought and can not wait to get started. This is almost always bad news.If I were joining a startup, I’d love to understand how the founding team came upon the idea they are pursuing today If a startup is venture capital backed, it should not be too hard to learn about the investors and the amoun t of money raised. Typically, this information is publicly accessible, often in an online press release, and if not, it’s not inappropriate to ask.After all these entrepreneurs are asking you to take a risk joining their fledgling firm.For bootstrap and self-funded startups, this line of questioning can be somewhat uncomfortable.If you are squeamish about it, then it is possible to revert to the: “Which are the capital-raising strategies for the business? Can you expect to bring in outside investors? If so, when? These inquiries will give you a feeling for where the company stands.One thing to consider: There isn’t any real substitute for money in the bank. Although the fact that “we have many investors who have expressed interest” is excellent, but it won’t pay the bills, nor your paycheck.evalPhoto Credit â€" Pexels.com5. Which are the founders hoping to receive from the effort?evalTry and move beyond the platitudes and clichés. Seriously, what do they need to get fro m the startup? Build a world-famous item? Make a tremendous amount of money? Have a business go public? Raise funds from top-tier VCs? Get an opportunity to work with their friends?At a certain level, they have to have similar objectives with as each other, or there’ll probably be a fair amount of conflict.6. What will the startup do for you?Joining a startup is a reasonably significant risk which requires a lot of hard work. For it to be meaningful, you will need to be sure that along with bringing a lot to the startup you will be joining â€" it gives a lot to you.Do you want to wear several hats? Do you want to have a reasonable amount of control and discretion? Are you expecting to work with a particular founder? Whatever you attribute value to, be sure that you have a good chance of actually getting this worth.One-way connections in startup-land rarely actually work. You must both have the ability to gain a lot from the startup â€" along with contributing a ton to it.I’m a h uge fan of the growth opportunities in a startup â€" especially for younger people earlier in their careers. I credit my successful career and entrepreneurial spirit to my early jobs in startup firms.Nowhere else will you receive the varied set of experiences and visibility which you could get within an early-stage startup (whether you start your own business or work in somebody else’s).If you are not going to benefit from this (or aren’t enthusiastic about it), you are missing out on one of the highest components of value.Overall, it appears that the degree of startup activity (especially in the key markets) is beginning to pick up.People are starting businesses at a fairly reasonable rate and those injured directly or indirectly from the previous technology bubble have started to emerge from under their desks and research new startup opportunities.I, for one, think it is always an excellent time to check out startup career opportunities. However, it’s essential to walk in wi th your eyes wide open, especially if you have never worked for a startup firm before.Good luck.

#3 focus killer on job-search and career management - Hire Imaging

#3 focus killer on job-search and career management - Hire Imaging This is the last of a 3-part series on what I feel are the top three focus killers in job search, career and life management. If you missed the preceding posts on other focus killers â€" stress and multitasking â€" here they are. I have too many balls in the air! #3 Focus Killer: You’re juggling too many balls in the air Many of us have at one time or another â€" sometimes more regularly than is comfortable â€" felt that we have way too many balls in the air. Sometimes things slip through the cracks simply because there’s no way you could summon enough energy and focus to do it all. My client Beth faced this challenge. In one of our coaching sessions, she described an absentmindedness that had recently crept over her; and a messy living space that was driving her crazy and making it very tough to do her job â€"which happened to be her job search. I asked a friend of mine who is a psychologist and time management / efficiency expert, about this issue. She said that absentmindedness and messiness can have varied causes. She noted that messiness is often about priorities. She gave an example. You’re faced with the to-do of decluttering and cleaning your home. But you’d really rather get out for a walk and some fresh air. Or maybe you’re just too tired to clean, having worked late on a project the night before. But she pointed out that often it may because there are too many things on your plate. You’ve got too many balls in the air. You’re saying yes, yes, yes to everything. It’s just tough to do it all sometimes. When I later questioned Beth further, she said that she certainly did have a lot on her plate. She said she has trouble saying no when someone needs her help.  As a mom, she keeps track of her children’s tasks as well as her own. Her expectations for memory and performance are very high â€" perhaps unrealistically high. I checked again with my psychologist friend. She said that when there are multiple things we have to keep track of, saying no to things where we have an option becomes critical. Because there are things with which we have no choice. This discerning is   a habit to hone. Even mundane life can challenge us to prioritize what we must do and can say no to. A sample of Beth’s challenge one week: Put in 6 to 8 hours a day on her job search Basketball practice with daughter and  hockey with son â€" a total of four separate nights Out-of-town guests coming that weekend Help son with science project Clean house Do eight loads of laundry (and ironing) Grocery shop Volunteer at hospital one morning Reconcile the bank statement Study chapters and write a paper for class  chapters for class at local community college She was really all over the map â€" headed for exhaustion Juggling 101 As with most things, no magic bullets here. Beth and I coached around the perspective of her honing a new skill â€" juggling with polish! A new skill is developed through a shift in thinking, brainstorming, practice and support to make behavior changes. Your reward from this juggling with polish will be more empowerment. And also as with most things, it takes effort. Taking my cue from what got Beth on the right track, here’s a 4-phase crash outline to get you started. Forgive the preachy tone; I’m laying it out in tough-love format; the rest to be filled in and fleshed out by you. #1 Create your climate for positive change. Make self-care a priority (sleep, exercise, healthy eating, honest and open communication). If you don’t, will you honestly have the energy or concentration to tackle the physical and emotional commitments in your life? #2 Get honest and clear about where you spend your time and what areas of your life are not in balance. A great assessment to use is The Circle of Life. Take a piece of paper and draw a big circle in the middle. Divide the circle into eight equal parts. Label the tip of each dividing lines: Relationships, Health/Well-Being, Finances, Career/Work, Personal Growth, Socialization, Creativity, and Recreation. Now, ask yourself, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being completely dissatisfied and 10 being completely satisfied), how you would rate each part of your life? The circle’s center represents zero and the outer edge a 10. Mark each line to reflect your conclusions. Then connect the dots and you will find your circle is misshapen. This is a straightforward, yet effective way to highlight what needs your attention to achieve greater balance â€" and focus. #3 Take baby steps to recapture balance. Health and wellness not what you’d want? Start drinking 8 glasses of water a day and cut out the soda. Or plan a week’s worth of menus, with a grocery list that only includes those items. Finances got you down? Set aside time to meet with a financial planner. Or get together with your spouse to plan a budget. Or simply take a day to clean out and organize financial records. Feeling stagnated with “no me” time? Set aside time (on your calendar) for a good book, a chat with friends, a bubble bath â€" whatever makes you feel good. In a nutshell, create the life you want bit by bit. #4 Find champions. Tell your family and friends what you are doing. Surround yourself with those who empathize and support you. There is power in not feeling alone. Okay. It is definitely a process; no magic bullets reiterated. One does not compartmentalize crazy-focus, messy life immediately. What’s that saying about Rome being built!?   And as you’re getting there â€" on the road, so to speak â€" take heart that living life on a Tilt-a-Whirl is neither a failure or flaw. There’s an upside to being a juggler and feeling without focus. Well, honestly, a bit scatterbrained. Sometimes a wandering mind unleashes the creative energies that can bear the fruit of new ideas. That lead to endless possibilities. That can simply give us pleasure. And maybe, just maybe, you’re not born to be a compulsively neat or type A personality. Maybe you end up doing things in the moment because that’s you. Yes, if you’re feeling uncomfortable with lack of focus to get your priorities in order and accomplished, work on it. But sometimes you may allow yourself to be a spontaneous and life-affirming person. Don’t lose this part of you. Don’t settle. Love it! This isn’t really about balancing your time. It’s about balancing your energy, attention and time still aligned with the unique YOU. Photo: fazen

Fired for Posting a Dilbert Comic at Work -

Fired for Posting a Dilbert Comic at Work - Have you heard the story of the man who was fired for posting a comic that his bosses thought ridiculed them?   They caught him on video surveillance posting the irreverent Dilbert comic and fired him: Click Here  to see the video. Employees beware!   It doesnt take much to get firedDilbert author has this advice:   Stick with Garfield.   No one was ever fired for loving lasagna. Your boss has no sense of humor?   Need   a new job?   Keppie Careers will write your resume, guide your search and provide clarity about the job hunt: